Vadodara, 10 January (H.S.): India's ODI captain Shubman Gill expressed respect for the selectors' decision to exclude him from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's first ODI against New Zealand.
During the pre-match press conference, Gill stated he honors the selectors' verdict and extends best wishes to the T20 team. He philosophically added that his current position aligns with destiny, emphasizing a cricketer's duty to deliver peak performance for the nation while accepting selection choices.
Gill's recent T20 struggles prompted the team management to prioritize combinations, replacing him with all-rounder Axar Patel as T20 vice-captain. His absence underscores tactical shifts amid inconsistent white-ball form.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's exceptional recent form, showcased in Vijay Hazare Trophy, positions them as India's key batting pillars. Observers will scrutinize both veterans in this three-match series, less than a month before the T20 World Cup.
Gill's return challenges Yashasvi Jaiswal's top-order spot, while Shreyas Iyer's comeback promises middle-order stability. KL Rahul secures the lower order as batter-keeper, potentially benching Rishabh Pant again. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya rest for T20 duties.
Pace responsibilities fall to Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. Spin handled by Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja.
The match unfolds at Kotambi's new Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, hosting its inaugural men's international fixture. New Zealand eyes young talent testing despite senior absences, aiming to mount a formidable challenge.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
